The Senate Judiciary Committee approved the nominations of five judges to the Superior Court, one to the Administrative Court and two to the Workers Compensation Court before closing out the legislative session before summer break. Senate President Nicholas Scutari indicated that he plans to call back the Senate to consider the looming nomination of John Jay Hoffman for the state Supreme Court.
Among the five judges approved by the Senate is New Jersey State Bar Association Trustee Jennifer McAndrew-Vuotto of Morris County. She thanked the late NJSBA Trustee Jeremy Farrell for his support throughout the nomination process. In addition to McAndrew-Vuotto, the Senate voted favorably for the nominations of Amber J. Gibbs and Adam Kenny, both of Middlesex County, Louis Charles Shapiro of Cumberland County and Jude Anthony Tiscornia of Hudson County.
Scutari announced at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing earlier in the day that with these nominations, from his perspective, the judicial crisis is over. As of today, he noted, there are 40 vacancies, which is more than the number of vacancies the Administrative Office of the Courts has stated is necessary for the judiciary to properly function.
According to news reports, Scutari is looking for an August date to hold a Senate session. There is no indication of whether more judges will be considered in addition to Hoffman. The NJSBA continues to monitor this issue.
Digital Tort Claims Act Filings Goes Live
All tort and contract claims must be filed digitally beginning July 11, the New Jersey Treasury said in an announcement issued earlier this week. Tort and contract claims are required to be filed if the claims are against the state of New Jersey, its departments, agencies and employees, including state colleges and universities (except Rutgers University). According to the website, already-filed paper notices of claim that may have been filed in recent weeks may be converted to a digital format.
The portal tracks the status and progress of claims and allows a person filing to amend the claim at any time after submission. It also allows a person to upload documents when filing a claim or any time following the initial filing.
For more information, go to the digital claim portal here.